Tag: Jaffna
OPINION – Northern Investment Summit, Jaffna January 2026
By Jekhan Aruliah When the topic of the Northern economy comes up, Jaffna is often criticized for living on remittances. Small transfers, perhaps a hundred US dollars a month, sent by hard working people overseas to their families in Jaffna and the Northern Province. These gifts are said to be ruining Jaffna youth and the […]
The Chamber of Northern Exporters (CNE) Delivering Goods and Services From Jaffna and the Northern Province
By Jekhan Aruliah We have heard it so many times, “We must export more!”. We have heard it from politicians and economists and assorted commentators of assorted quality through miscellaneous channels. “We must export more” deserves the internet acronym SOTBO. Internet slang for a “Statement Of The Bleeding Obvious”. A statement so basic, so self-evident, […]
David Pieris Group Launches Northern Entrepreneur Seed Fund
By Jekhan Aruliah I first met Mr David Pieris in 2021. David came for tea at my place in Jaffna on one of his business visits to the North. The David Pieris Motor Company (DPMC) has operated in the North for decades including throughout the Sri Lanka civil war. David told me of his vision […]
Sri Lanka’s Economy, Hare or Tortoise?
By Jekhan Aruliah I was listening to a very eloquent speaker on YouTube. He commented, as our public speakers often do, that we in Sri Lanka are a blessed nation. Blessed with abundant natural assets, our forests and beaches etc, and copious human talents. And yet this blessed nation is chronically poor and in 2022 […]
SLIIT Northern Uni, ICT and Business Management Degrees in Jaffna
By Jekhan Aruliah I often walk past the SLIIT Northern Uni building in Jaffna at the junction of Arasadi and Palaly Road on my way from my place to Jaffna Town. I watched last year, 2023, with great interest as the foundations were laid, the columns and slabs were poured, the glass was fitted. There […]
‘s New Tech Talent Incubator
By Jekhan Aruliah I know people for whom Rs10k is a lot, and others where Rs1million is not a lot. But for rich and poor one thing is the same. We all have 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and God willing 60 years to contribute our efforts. Contribute to our […]
‘s raw talent into IT professionals
By Jekhan Aruliah For all its catastrophic consequences COVID-19 lockdowns at least had a silver lining for Sri Lanka’s towns and cities beyond the Western Province. Thousands of staff returned from Colombo to hometowns across Sri Lanka to be locked-down with their families. Many sadly lost their jobs, as their work required their physical presence […]
Diaspora investment in Mullaitivu, Mullai Milk Processing Industries
By Jekhan Aruliah Mr S.Thavaseelan, known as Seelan, was born in Kayts a town at the Northern end of Jaffna’s Velanai Island. His father, who delivered letters for the Ceylon Post Office, died when Seelan was 4 years old. He left the young family with a government pension which his mother supplemented doing other jobs. […]
‘s new Dean of the Faculty of Medicine talks about international engagement
By Jekhan Aruliah Interviewing Dr Rajendran Surenthirakumaran (Suren), the newly appointed in September 2021 Dean (Head) of the Faculty of Medicine University of Jaffna, I realised the vital importance of international outreach. International collaboration for expertise, experience, research, and for funding is as key to academia as it is for business. I am impressed how […]
Dragonboats come to Jaffna
By Jekhan Aruliah Northwind Projects, a team promoting sporting and other activities in the Northern Province, successfully brought together the Sri Lankan Navy, the Northern Provincial Council’s Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs, Sport and Youth Affairs and the Jaffna District Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Union’s Federation. They came together to kick-off dragonboat racing, canoeing, and the […]
Thinking about investing in the Northern Province?
By Jekhan Aruliah A few years ago I was speaking with a main board director of one of Sri Lanka’s largest companies. I asked him, a Jaffna Tamil gentleman approaching retirement, why his company still had not invested in the North several years after the war had ended. What he said put simply is there […]
Don’t listen to the aunties! Young people can find a great career in Tourism and Hospitality
By Jekhan Aruliah I first met Sinnaththurai Jeyakumar in 2020 at a particularly good dinner in Jetwing Jaffna’s elegant restaurant. We had eaten well, enjoyed a bottle of wine, and were feeling good. As we thanked our waiter, he asked if we would like to meet the chef. A moment later there he was. Smart, […]